CHENNAI: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader EM Sudarsana Natchiappan (80), a native of Ariyur near Sivaganga, died at his residence in Sivaganga on Thursday following a prolonged illness.

Sudarsana Natchiappan contested the 1999 Lok Sabha election from the Sivaganga constituency on a Congress ticket and won. He served as a Member of Parliament until 2004.

He subsequently served as a Rajya Sabha member from 2004 to 2016. He served as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the Union government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2013 to 2014.

A senior advocate, Sudarsana Natchiappan had also practised as a lawyer in the Supreme Court.

He was also the paternal uncle of Virudhunagar Congress MP Manickam Tagore.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore and Higher Education Minister and Melur MLA P Viswanathan visited the residence of the late leader and paid their respects by placing garlands on his mortal remains.

They later met his family members and offered their condolences. Members of various political parties and the public have expressed condolences over his death.